title: Visual rehabilitation in patients with myopic maculopathy: our experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the MP-1 microperimeter (Nidek Technologies Srl, Padova, Italy) and Visual Pathfinder (LACE Inc) in improving visual function of patients with myopic maculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients (34 eyes) between 36 and 58 years of age with myopic maculopathy and central retinal scotomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a complete eye examination, all patients underwent 10 training sessions with MP-1 biofeedback (7 minutes) and Visual Pathfinder (3 minutes) for each eye once a week. Statistical analysis was performed with Student t test. The p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean best corrected visual acuity increased from 0.64 ± 0.22 to 0.38 ± 0.20 logMAR at the end of follow-up (p = 0.03); visual-evoked potential P100 amplitude increased from 3.54 ± 1.90 to 6.64 ± 2.91 μV at the end of follow-up (p = 0.04); average retinal sensitivity, calculated in the 12 degrees of the central retina, increased from 6.6 ± 2.6 to 14.6 ± 3.6 dB (p = 0.03). Fixation behaviour in the 2 degrees of the central retina increased from 45% ± 17% to 75% ± 23% (p = 0.04). The bivariate contour ellipse area (95%) increased from 10.34 ± 3.11 to 7.64 ± 2.71 square degrees (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of acoustic biofeedback training with MP-1 and Visual Pathfinder offers a reasonable improvement of visual function in patients with myopic maculopathy. This method might be considered as a rehabilitative strategy as a "therapeutic option" in these patients for whom most treatments usually do not work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University La Sapienza of Rome, Rome;; UOC of Ophthalmology, AUSL Latina, Ospedale Fiorini Terracina, Latina, Italy. Electronic address: enzomaria.vingolo@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Enzo Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vingolo
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domanico
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spadea
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods*